Texas Lou

Archive for the ‘Charity’ Category

Sorry, I’ve been lacking inspiration for blog post topics the past couple of days. For the first time, I think I am finally starting to feel comfortable in my new job (think is the keyword here since I could revert back to freaked out noob any second). I am starting to meet more people too. I participated in the work bake sale last week for the Women’s 4 Miler, donated blood to Virginia Blood Services for the company sponsored blood drive, and I got chosen to be a Crutchfield volunteer in the United Way Jefferson Area Day of Caring in a couple of weeks.  They say the more you put into things, the more you get out in return so that’s my plan!

Happy Friday and hope everyone has a great weekend!

On Saturday morning, I ran the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler for the 5th year in a row.  The race takes place every year on Labor Day weekend, and the money raised goes to support the University of Virginia Cancer Center Breast Care Program which helps  to fund breast cancer research and support local women fighting the disease.

I was really excited about my performance this year.  Despite it raining during the entire race, I beat my record for the course and crossed the finish line in just under 45 minutes.  In addition, I ran the first mile at 9 minutes and 19 seconds which is a HUGE record for me (I usually run between an 11 and 12 minute mile)!  Below are my results from the past 5 years and they definitely show what an improvement I’ve made!

2012 Results

2011 Results

2010 Results

2009 Results

2008 Results

To get ready for the race, the past couple of years, my friends Sarah and Wendy and I have made shirts to wear on race day.  This year, mine said:

T-shirt…$4

Race Registration…$45

E Racing Cancer…Priceless

Sarah and Wendy’s shirts quoted lyrics from the Young MC song “Bust A Move” (get it…bust as in boobies…haha!).

Me, Sarah, and Wendy before the race sporting our creative T’s!

Ben even came out to support us and I want to say a special thank you to him for holding all of our bags and waiting for us in the rain.

Ben and I before the race

Sarah and I waiting for Wendy to arrive with our race bibs.

Ben and I…check out all the pink in the background!

One of the best things about this race is all of the support it gets from the local community.  People come out rain or shine to volunteer and cheer on the runners and everyone gets all decked out in pink.  We even saw a man with three kids who all had their hair dyed pink (including the father’s beard) and were wearing pink shirts in support of their wife/mom running the race!  It’s the number 1 most popular race in Charlottesville and race registration has closed out in under 12 hours the past couple of years.  I was really lucky to get a spot this year since race registration was on my wedding day.  Lucky for me, my pal Wendy signed me up!  I love this race and I plan on running it every year as long as I’m able.  And one day, if I have daughters, I hope to have them run it with me!

If you live in the Charlottesville area and are free this Thursday, June 24th, you should come out to the Batesville Store in Batesville.  There will be food, face painting, and music by Eli Cook.

10% of all money made that night will be donated to my Team In Training team to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The event will take place from 6 to 9:30 PM.  The atmosphere will be family friendly so please come out, bring your friends and kids, and have a good time for a good cause!

You can check out our flyer for more info:  batesville store fundraiser.

Hope to see everyone there and don’t forget to donate toward my goal of $4000 @ http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi !

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Pampered Chef show last night that my Team in Training team hosted.  So far, we have made over $700 and 15% of that will go toward finding a cure for cancer!

We had a blast meeting new friends, chatting with old friends, learning about some awesome Pampered Chef products, and tasting some yummy food!

I also want to thank everyone who ordered online!

Orders for our show can still be placed up until 9 PM on this Sunday evening (June 13th) with 15% of each order going toward our cause!

If you’d like to order online, here are the instructions:

Online Ordering Instructions: Go to http://www.pamperedchef.biz/danaholler -> “Our Products” -> “HOW TO PURCHASE” -> Type “Team in Training” as the organization, click “Search for Host” -> click on “Nikki Chambers” -> Order!

Thank you everyone for your support!

I’d like to say a special thanks to Dana Holler, my good friend, for being the best Pampered Chef consultant ever, Nikki Chambers, my Team in Training Fundraiser Captain, for putting the event together, and her friend Ellen for lending us her beautiful house and big kitchen!

1. Gimme 5 minutes of your time – go to my Team In Training web page at:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi

There, you will learn more about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and my training and fundraising progress.  In the five minutes that it takes you to review my web page, someone new will be diagnosed with a blood cancer – so money for research and patient support is desperately needed.

2. Gimme 5 friends. Send this blog post to five of your friends or colleagues and help me spread the word about what I am doing!  Maybe they will want to make a donation as well!

3. Gimme 5 months of training to get ready for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon.  It is a ton of work, but it pales in comparison to what people facing cancer have to go through every day.  During the five months I’m in training, approximately 21,600 Americans will have died from a blood cancer.

4. Gimme 5 hundred thousand Americans who have contracted blood cancers in the past five years.   Help me help others with cancer to win their battle.  LLS is helping patients live longer, better lives and you can help too!

5. Gimme a donation and I’ll give you 5 reasons I’m grateful for it.   You can make a secure credit card donation online, or if you prefer, send me a check payable to LLS.  For those of you who have already donated, here are 5 reason I’m grateful: (1) That I’m healthy enough to even attempt this endurance event; (2) That while cancer survival rates continue to increase, your donation will make a difference (3) Because without your donation, all I am doing is running 13.1 miles – it is your donation that is the real purpose of all of this; (4) That so many people continue to believe in me trying to make a difference; (5) For the names of your loved ones that I will wear on my shirt on race day.  These give me a lot of strength during the half marathon, and I am grateful for you sharing them with me.

So if you haven’t done so already but would like to, go ahead and use your fingers to write a check to LLS or key in a credit card donation online.  In return, I’ll use my legs and feet to run 13.1 miles, and you’ll automatically get all five reasons for my gratitude applied to you as well!

Sincerely,

Leslie Elsaifi

My sister signed up for the Team in Training Houston chapter and will be running the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco with me.  This makes me so very HAPPY!

Running is one of the hobbies that she and I are both interested in and I am so excited that we will get to share this experience.  Plus we will have each other to share fundraising and training tips with.  I also kind of like to think of it as a free sisters’ weekend as well.  Although it’s not really free since she has to raise $3500 and I’ve got to raise $3900.

Thanks to Team In Training, we will finally get to run together!

If you’d like to make a donation to my sister, Carrie Elsaifi, check out her Team In Training website located at http://pages.teamintraining.org/txg/nikesf10/celsaifi.

And don’t forget to donate toward my effort as well (http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi).

Last week, I joined an organization called Team In Training.  I have been researching this organization for a while and am really excited to finally become a member!

The way that Team In Training works goes like this:  Team in Training sponsors runners, cyclists, and triathletes by providing them with training, coaching, and inspiration and funding all of their race expenses (race registration, airplane tickets, hotel rooms).  In return, the athletes raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Team in Training is now ” the world’s largest endurance sports training program”!

I wanted to join Team In Training not just because it seems like such a great organization in all aspects, but because I wanted to do something good with my ability to run long distances.  When I ran the Shamrock Half Marathon (my first half marathon) back in March, I did it just to prove to myself that I could finish it and also for the free beer.  Now that I know I can reach the goal, I want to do it for others instead of just for me.

I signed up for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon which will take place on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California.  I’m really excited about this race and also extremely glad to be traveling to San Francisco since I haven’t been there since I was five years old and therefore don’t remember much from the trip.  I am also super motivated to reach my goal of raising $4000 by October.

I’m asking every person who reads this to PLEASE donate toward my goal by going to this website.  Even if you can only donate a small amount, please do because every little bit really does count!

The way I see it I’m getting so much out of this experience:

• The opportunity to meet, train with, and become friends with a great group of people
• The opportunity to travel and spend time in a beautiful city
• The opportunity to raise money and awareness for a wonderful cause that can help save so many lives
• The opportunity to prove to myself and others that running the one half marathon wasn’t just a one-time lucky shot

I hope you will check out my page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi and donate toward my goal.  And please check back often to see my progress.

Thanks for the support!

On Sunday, I’m walking in the 2009 Charlottesville Area Heart Walk!

I’d love it if you could support me by going to this website and donating money.

If you can’t donate money, I totally understand.  You can also support me by getting out there and walking.  I walk with coworkers 3 to 5 days a week during my lunch break.  It may not seem like much, but adding activities like these into your daily schedule can make you feel better both physically and mentally, improve your overall health, and add years to your life.

Start moving!

Saturday, I ran the Charlottesville Women’s 4 Miler  for breast cancer.  I was excited for the race because it’s basically a huge party in the street with lots of people cheering you on and tons of strong women running for a good cause.

However, I was also a little nervous because I hadn’t really trained for the race this year.

Well I’m proud to say that I finished the race, had a fun time running it, and beat my time from last year.

Thanks to Charlottesville Women’s 4 Miler website for the stats.